Step 4: Refining Print Size
When we clicked the "4.00x6.00" size using the size dropdown, we added the three selected images to the page at a size of 4x6. The large highlighted section above shows a preview of what our printed page looks like. At this point, we are ready to print using the button with the printer icon highlighted on the top/right.
That's really all there is to it. Qimage offers many options that allow you to refine the size/position of your prints "after the fact" and the ability to refine crops, create filters, etc. Now that you know the basics and have learned how to quickly find your images, select images, and add them to the document or "queue", you can move on to the "Learn by Example" section if you would like to refine your skills and move on to advanced operations.
Advanced: Taking it a step further by understanding print size and location.
There are several reasons why your preview page may differ in appearance from the page above. To understand some of the basics that control print size and location, we have highlighted some important buttons that control the final size and placement of images on the page.
If the size of your prints is not exactly 4.00 x 6.00 (size is shown in the View/Print Queue on the lower left of the window), you may simply need to give Qimage permission to crop images to match the size you chose. If the aspect ratio or "shape" (width/height) of your image doesn't fit perfectly in the print size chosen, there are two options to handle this mismatch. The crop button (highlighted button above with scissors icon) controls how aspect ratio mismatches are handled. If the button is in the down position when the print size is initially chosen, Qimage will crop a portion of the image to obtain the exact size (4.00 x 6.00 in this case). If the button is in the up position, Qimage will print the entire image inside a 4.00 x 6.00 frame, resulting in a print that may be smaller than the size selected in one dimension. To change this crop/fit preference after you have already added images to the document, simply select all the images on the preview page and then click the crop button (scissors icon) to change "crop to size" or "fit in frame".
Also note that the position of images on the page and the number of images that will fit on a page depends on the placement option chosen. If you are not getting three 4x6 prints per page, you may just need to change your image placement option to a more optimal placement method. Note that we have chosen the "optimal/spaced" placement method and have highlighted that button just below the preview page. The icon on the button shows the currently selected placement method, but you can also "hover" the mouse over the button to find out what method is selected. The size of the paper also determines how many prints will fit on a page. If your current print driver settings show a page size (visible in the above highlighted section) of less than 8.0 inches in one dimension or less than 10.0 inches in the other dimension, it will be impossible to fit three 4x6 prints on one page. To correct for this, click the highlighted printer setup icon (printer with wrench) and select a larger paper size and/or different margin settings from the "properties" window of your print driver.
Advanced: Exploring Right Click Options
As with selected thumbnails, there are many options available when prints are selected on the preview page. Try selecting a print on the preview page and then right clicking on that print to see the options available. Also note that changing the size of a print requires nothing more than selecting the print on the preview page and clicking a new size button. For example, select one of the 4x6 prints on your page and then click the size dropdown and select "5.00x7.00" to change the 4x6 to a 5x7 print.
If you'd like to print the entire tutorial, here is the tutorial PDF file.